Announcements about my International Linux Live Systems

Tag: RAM

NEWS 20170407 about exGENTI’ve made yet a new version (20170407) of exGENT based on Gentoo Linux. It uses Xfce 4.12.1 and LXQt 0.11.0 Desktop environments and kernel 4.10.4. It is for the 64 bit architecture. I call it exGENT 2017 Xfce4/LXQt Live DVD. It replaces version 20170331. The ISO file is of 2620 MB due to the fact that this version has a lot of packages pre-installed. Despite this exGENT version 170407 runs surprisingly fast from DVD or USB. Even in VirtualBox and VMware. Faster than most other Linux live systems. All installed packages in exGENT have been updated to the latest available version by 170407.

What’s new in exGENT Build 170407?
The boot loader Grub Legacy has been replaced by Grub2. I started this build in the hope that I should be able to implement a new independent installer program called Calamares. I wasn’t able to do it now though. (Many dependencies to satisfy). My old installer script will have to do until I find a solution. Anyway, I think exGENT Build 170407 can be of interest because of the change to Grub2 and the fact that it has one of the newest kernels installed. MOSTIMPORTANT: In versions before 170309 the file system wasn’t writable when running exGENT live (from DVD). Now you can emerge (install) new programs/packages even while running the system from a DVD or USB stick. If you do that and later decide to install exGENT to hard drive all your changes will follow! Furthermore you can install/transfer exGENT to a USB stick with the dd command in Linux or use Etcher and Rufus in Windows. Watch a screenshot when Etcher is running. Such installations were impossible before. Note: I have uninstalled Google Chrome. It’s not needed anymore, since Netflix runs very well in Firefox now. I’ve also added the LXQt Desktop environment. LXQt is a lightweight Qt desktop environment. It will not get in your way. It will not hang or slow down your system. It is focused on being a classic desktop with a modern look and feel. You can choose between Xfce4 and LXQt when logging in at Slim’s login screen. Just press F1.

Programs etcThe best thing with exGENT is the premier autodetection of hardware and the ability to easily install the system to hard drive during a live session. Installed programs: Among many others GParted, GNU Emacs, Firefox, Spotify, Thunderbird, Samba, Vlc, AbiWord, Nvidia Graphics driver 375.39 and NetworkManager. Furthermore compilation tools so that you can install programs from source the Gentoo way.

ExTiX 14 64 bit (The Ultimate Linux System) is based on Debian/Ubuntu. The original system includes the Desktop Environment Unity (Ubuntu). After removing Unity I have installed Gnome 3.10 and Gnome Classic 3.10 (a perfect replacement for Cinnamon). The system language is English.

NEWS about ExTiX 14 version 140222
1. The ExTiX ISO is now a ISO-hybrid, which means that it can very easily be transferred (copied) to a USB pen drive. You can then even run ExTiX from the USB stick and save all your system changes on the stick. I.e. you will enjoy persistence! I’ve found two scripts which make the installation to USB very simple. The scripts are quite ingenious. My tests show that they work flawlessly on USB installations of all normal Ubuntu systems. Read my INSTRUCTION how to use the scripts.
2. Another big improvement is that ExTiX 14 can run from RAM. Use Boot alternative 2 (Copy to RAM). When the system has booted up you can remove the disc (DVD) or USB stick. You’ll need at least 2 GB RAM to run ExTiX that way.
3. ExTiX is now more stable than ever. All packages have been upgraded to the latest version by 140222.
4. It is now possible to install Nvidia’s proprietary drivers in ExTiX if you want or need it. Please read this instruction.
5. I’ve also installed version 2.1.1 of Vlc from source to make it possible to run Vlc when logged in as root.
6. I’ve replaced kernel 3.12.0-7-exton with kernel 3.13.0-9-exton (Kernel.org‘s latest stable kernel 3.13.3, released 140213).
7. The installation program Ubiquity (live installer) is now working as intended in ExTiX version 140222. I.e. a new user (your user) will be created during the installation process.

NOTE re. ExTiX 14 build 140219: After the installation is ready you’ll have to replace /etc/apt/sources.list with this file (sources-extix14.list). First change the name to sources.list. Then run the command sudo apt-get update. After that you can install any new packages or upgrade the whole system.

NEWS 20140212
I’ve made yet a new version (140212) of exGENT 2014. Now with Gnome 3.10. It is for the 32 bit architecture. I call it exGENT 2014 Gnome Live DVD. It replaces version 20130423 of exGENT, which had Cinnamon as Desktop environment. Cinnamon is no longer “needed” since Gnome version 3.10 has everything that Cinnamon has (and more). Version 140212 of exGENT uses kernel 3.13.2. (The latest stable kernel from Kernel.org). Study the LIST of all installed packages.

NEWS 140210I’ve made yet a new version (20140210) of exGENT 2014. This time for the 32 bit architecture. The new version (140210 of 1080 MB) uses LXDE as Desktop environment (as my previous 64 bit version from 140207). All installed packages in exGENT have been updated to the latest available version by 140210.

NEWS 20140207
I’ve made yet a new version (20140207) of exGENT 2014. This time for the 64 bit architecture. The new version (release 140207 of 1090 MB) uses LXDE as Desktop environment. Used kernel: 3.13.1-gentoo-exton. Kernel 3.13.1 is the second latest stable kernel available from Kernel.org. All installed packages in exGENT have been updated to the latest available version by 140207.

FeaturesYou’ll run exGENT super fast in RAM. The launch from the dvd becomes a little slow, but then… A wonderful way to run Linux if you have enough RAM. You’ll need at least 2 GB. exGENT Linux can be installed to hard drive in 3 – 10 min. (Depending on computer type). This means that all of you who might hesitate to perform a normal Gentoo installation – which can take up to a couple of days – now have the chance to get this great Linux system (Gentoo) installed on your computers very easy.

Who is exGENT/Gentoo for?
My answer: Experienced Linux users or those who really want to learn Linux. (Perhaps also for people who are bored with mainstream distributions like Ubuntu).

NEWS ABOUT ExTiX 14 131223
1. The ExTiX ISO is now a ISO-hybrid, which means that it can very easily be transferred (copied) to a USB pen drive. You can then even run ExTiX from the USB stick and save all your system changes on the stick. I.e. you will enjoy persistence! I’ve found two scripts which make the installation to USB very simple. The scripts are quite ingenious. Unfortunately, it is not me who have created them. I found the scripts on Kanotix website. There was no direct indication of how good the scripts were, but my tests show that they work flawlessly on USB installations of all normal Ubuntu systems. Read my INSTRUCTION how to use the scripts.
2. Another big improvement is that ExTiX 14 can run from RAM. Use Boot alternative 2 (Copy to RAM). When the system has booted up you can remove the disc (DVD) or USB stick. You’ll need at least 2 GB RAM to run ExTiX that way.
3. ExTiX is now more stable than ever. All packages have been upgraded to the latest version by 131223.

ExTiX 14 64 bit is based on Ubuntu 13.10 released on October 17, 2013. The original system includes the Desktop Environment Unity (Ubuntu). After removing Unity I have installed Gnome 3.10 and Gnome Classic 3.10 (a perfect replacement for Cinnamon). The system language is English.

PuppEX 14.1 5.6 32bit is a remaster of Puppy Linux Slacko 5.6, released on August 12, 2013. Kernel 3.10.5 is used. PuppEX uses the LXDE Desktop interface. Unlike the original Puppy Slacko 5.6, which uses JVM, Fvwm95 and IceWM as Desktop interface. PCManFM and LXTerminal are more useful ROX-Filer respectively RXVT, I think. The ISO file is on the whole 317 MB, which is due to me including LXDE and compiling tools (devx_slacko_5.6.0.sfs). Slacko 5.6 original is of only 165 MB. PuppEX is despite this still running as fast as the original, which means it runs very, very fast compared to most other Linux systems. (Puppy/PuppEX runs from RAM).